How Can I Programmatically Generate Keypress Events in C# WPF Applications?

Programmatic Generation of Keypress Events in C#

Programmatically generating events that simulate keyboard presses is a crucial task in various scenarios, such as automation testing and user interface simulation. This article explores how to achieve this functionality in C#, specifically within the WPF framework.

Solution for WPF Applications

A straightforward approach for WPF applications is to utilize the KeyEventArgs class and the RaiseEvent method on the target element. Here's an example to send an Insert key KeyDown event to the currently focused element:

var key = Key.Insert;                    // Key to send
var target = Keyboard.FocusedElement;    // Target element
var routedEvent = Keyboard.KeyDownEvent; // Event to send
     target.RaiseEvent(
  new KeyEventArgs(
    Keyboard.PrimaryDevice,
    PresentationSource.FromVisual(target),
    0,
    key)
  { RoutedEvent=routedEvent }
);

This solution eliminates the need for native calls or manipulating Windows internals, ensuring reliability. Additionally, it allows for simulating keypresses precisely on specific elements.

TextInput Events

For sending TextInput events, the code differs slightly:

var text = "Hello";
var target = Keyboard.FocusedElement;
var routedEvent = TextCompositionManager.TextInputEvent;

target.RaiseEvent(
  new TextCompositionEventArgs(
    InputManager.Current.PrimaryKeyboardDevice,
    new TextComposition(InputManager.Current, target, text))
  { RoutedEvent = routedEvent }
);

Considerations:

• Controls typically expect to receive Preview events before their corresponding events.
• Raising events directly via RaiseEvent bypasses meta-processing, achieving desired behavior in most scenarios. However, InputManager.ProcessInput() should be used to simulate actual keyboard keys.

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